Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common disorders in Western cultures. Symptoms of this condition include abdominal pain or cramping and changes in bowel function including bloating, gas, alternating diarrhoea and constipation and mucus in stools. Severity of symptoms may vary considerably depending on lifestyle and diet. Pain can be acute, chronic, functional, organic or referred.

I.B.S can be divided into three categories: 1. When its symptoms are associated with constipation.3. When it is associated with constipation as well as diarrhoea.lerance should be ruled out.3. When it is associated with constipation as well as diarrohea.

Unlike more serious intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Cohn’s disease which cause inflammation or changes in bowel tissue or increase your risk of colorectal cancer IBS can (in many cases) be controlled by managing your diet, lifestyle and stress.Some researchers believe IBS is caused by changes in the nerves that control sensation or muscle contractions in the bowel. Others believe the central nervous system may affect the colon. Women are two to three times as likely as men to have IBS so hormonal changes may also play a role. Many women find that signs and symptoms are worse during or around their menstrual periods. Many factors can affect the severity of symptoms such as psychological factors, your circumstances even attitude of relatives and friends.Controlling diet is extremely important for IBS suffers. Many people find that their signs and symptoms may worsen when they eat certain foods i.e. chocolate, milk and alcohol. Stress will also exacerbate IBS and sometimes other illnesses such as an acute gastroenteritis can trigger IBS.A complementary approach to IBS will focus on prevention. Staying away from or resolving some of the triggers that cause IBS can in many circumstances remedy the problem. Reduce stress through counselling or some form of relaxation such as Mindfulness, Medical Acupunture, Breathing Exercises, C.B.T, Gut Health and Micro biome Restoration, Lifestyle Medicine and Low Dose Medicine(natural) can be used safely to treat not only digestive disorders including the inflammatory conditions

Bloating Bloating is when your tummy is puffy, feels stretched and uncomfortable due to temporary abdominal distension.Common causes include overeating, eating too fast, swallowing food to quickly, talking while eating and swallowing air, certain foods which can cause gas (such as beans, lentils, cabbage, cauliflower) and drinking to many fizzy drinks. Certain medical conditions can also give rise to this symptom such as Gastritis, Food poisoning, Candida, Celiac, IBS, Diverticulitis disease, Food intolerance, Crohn’s disease, PMS or Menopause, certain cancers such as ovarian and colon. If you have any chest pain, palpitations, fever, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, pain in the abdominal area, bloody or dark stools, vomiting blood, eyes and skin becomes yellow and you have lost a lot of weight then please consult your GP first as he or she might prescribe an appropriate medication, tests or refer you to a specialist to rule out something sinister.Treatments: If a serious illness has been ruled out, then some lifestyle changes might help. It is advisable to slow down and try and eat in a relaxing atmosphere without watching television, reading or talking. It is also a good idea to try and identify the food which might be responsible for your bloating so that you can try and eliminate it. You should chew your food properly and try and eat three balanced meals a day, drink plenty of fluids for hydration and avoid fizzy drinks. Some complementary therapies can also be beneficial such as nutritional manipulation, mindfulness and some supplements and herbs. Medical acupuncture has been very effective as is natural restoration of gut health if you are suffering from Candida, leaky gut or food intolerance such as wheat and lactose which can produce a reaction resulting in gas and trapped wind. Read more about our Gut Health Restoration Clinic.

CandidaCandida is yeast normally found in certain parts of our body, such as mouth, intestines, and vagina. Recently scientists have discovered it living normally without causing problems in our eyes. If our immune system is working normally candida does not cause us any problems. On the contrary, it helps with our digestion and nutrition and vitamin absorption. It is only if it starts to over grow and turn into a fungal infection that can start developing the symptoms.

Candida is one of the most common fungal infections found in humans. Candida is dimorphic - it changes from yeast to fungus and produces finger like structures called hyphae which can burrow through the wall of the intestine and penetrate through causing a phenomena called Leaky gut syndrome.

Athletes Foot (Tinea Pedis)Athletes foot is a condition where the skin in between the toes and the side of the foot becomes inflamed and infected with fungus. It is usually red raw in appearance, with weepy slime and blisters. You could pick up this condition in locker rooms, gyms, swimming pools, communal showers especially when walking barefoot. It can also spread directly from person to person. In the defence forces this condition is also known as Jungle Rot.

Signs and Symptoms: In the majority of cases, the feet could be smelly or just dry skin, but it can progress to burning and stinging if not treated and can sometimes become unbearable and affect the performance of an athlete. In more severe cases cracking with pain and itching between the toes with blisters. Nails could also get infected. Athlete’s foot is potentially contagious, with some individuals being more susceptible than others. Especially people who sweat excessively and diabetics.

Usual treatment: A dry clean environment for the feet and use of antiperspirants on the feet. Doctors also recommend bathing your feet in Barrows solution. It is advisable, before starting any treatment, to consult your doctor for diagnoses and treatment.Home remedies: Some shampoos, Epson salts, some people use diluted white vinegar but please do not try this or any other treatment without asking your doctor. Foods that can be good are probiotic cultures, green leafy vegetables, nuts, avocados, salmon, ginger, asparagus, fresh mint and red wine in moderation. In more severe cases your doctor might advise local or oral anti-fungals especially when nails are involved. Other complications include spreading to other areas of the body or to other people. Other natural remedies are Tea tree oil. Lifestyle changes such as mild exercise daily (walking), mindfulness, counseling and swimming may also help relieve pain.

A combination of complementary treatments such as acupuncture, restoration of gut health, mindfulness, massage and careful use of essential oils can produce good results.

Diverticulosis Diverticulosis is a condition describing bulging pouches usually found in the digestive tract 20 out of every hundred people might suffer from it. Doctors do not know what actually causes it. These small pouches often become inflamed or infected causing severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and a change in bowel habits. This is called diverticulitis.

The pain associated with it can vary but is generally in the lower left side of your abdomen and it can be extremely severe and sometimes come on very suddenly. Other people may experience a mild pain that becomes worse over several days and fluctuates in intensity. Other symptoms range from bleeding from the rectum, frequent urination, bloating and vomiting.

Crohn's DiseaseThis is an inflammatory bowel disease which can affect any part of the gastrointestinal system or other parts of the body from mouth, oesophagus, stomach, intestines and colon. It usually affects the lower end of the small intestine and the start of the colon area. It is also known as ileitis, regional enteritis and colitis, resulting in ulceration bleeding and scar tissue.

Symptoms:1. Diarrhoea which can be bloody at times leading to iron deficiency anaemia.2. Abdominal pain3. Bloating especially after meals.4. Patients are afraid to eat which can lead to loss of weight and sometimes malnutrition.

Causes:

The cause of this disease is unknown but scientists think it starts with inflammation which can affect the immune system and is caused by the bacteria in the intestine.

This disease can run in families.

This is the disease of young people usually between 20-30 years old but can also affect kids in turn can affect their growth and can cause stress and depression leading sometimes to social isolation and other emotional issues.It usually starts with inflammation causing ulcerations which can spread leading to scars and narrowing of the bowel ,which can lead to an intestinal obstruction if left untreated. This disease can also lead to another complication known as a fistula which can sometimes be helped by surgical intervention.

If you think you are suffering from crohn’s you should see your doctor who might refer you to a gastroenterologist for investigations, diagnosis and treatment to avoid sometimes very serious complications.

There are other inflammatory bowel diseases which have to be ruled out especially ulcerative colitis in which the inflammation is mostly superficial and uninterrupted in the colonic area while inflammation of crohn’s is deeper, patchy and interrupted and can begin anywhere in the body such as the joints causing arthritis, osteoporosis, it can affect the eye sight, invades skin causing a condition called Erythema Nodosum,also gall bladder causing gallstones.

Treatment depends on it's severity:

Steroids, Aminosalicylates and Antibiotics

Immunosuppressant’s

Biological Medicines.

There are new biological medicines being developed showing promising results.

In severe cases when medication fails to work, surgical intervention might be the only answer. As this disease can be associated with nutritional deficiencies, psychological stress and emotional issues, complementary therapies can offer some help such as Laser medical acupuncture, Natural gut and microbiome restoration therapy, Nutritional therapy, Cognitive behavioural therapy, Mindful nutrition, mindful eating and other new therapies offered in our clinic.

ImmunityVulnerable people, such as children and the elderly, people with low immunity and other susceptible people including asthmatics or people with chronic sinusitis and chronic obstructive airway diseases (COAD), need to pay particular attention to their immunity. Immune deficiency can occur due to several reasons, especially if your organs are involved such as spleen, tonsillitis, bone marrow and lymph nodes as these organs release lymphocytes - these cell are the ones which fight the invading bacteria and virus parasites. Your immune system is also affected if you suffer from other diseases such as HIV, Sickle cell anaemia, cirrhosis of the liver etc.

Chronic Fatigue / TirednessMost of us have suffered from colds, flu, painful conditions, injuries etc in our lives, which keeps us awake at night or give us a restless sleep, which can result in feeling tired the next day. But at least in those cases we know the reason. Some people are suffering from constant tiredness, lack of energy and fatigue and they do not know why. Note: If you think you are one of these people it is highly recommended you visit your doctor.

Causes of tiredness: There are several causes of tiredness, some physical and some physiological.

Psychological tiredness is much more prevalent than physical. The biggest one being stress and anxiety which can lead to sleep disturbance and, in turn, leave you feeling exhausted all day.

Depression is a very common condition that can go undiagnosed for a long time. Symptoms can vary; usually people find it difficult to go to sleep, early morning wakening, feeling sad and down, it can affect you appetite resulting in weight loss or weight gain, inability to cope with your daily activities, feeling exhausted all day. Your doctor can help you turn things around and may refer you to a specialist.

Other contributors to tiredness include allergies such as asthma, hay fever and allergic rhinitis. Food allergies or food intolerance can also be contributing to your tiredness. Usually your doctor can help you diagnose your allergies.

Anaemia is a very common condition and a frequent cause of tiredness, especially in women with heavy periods, uterine polyps, fibroids and haemorrhoids. Although more women suffer from this condition, the incidence in men could be as high as one in twenty.

Book an appointmentTo meet with Dr Bhatti to discuss these conditions and the therapies on offer at our clinic, contact us on (087) 1915051 or email health@drbhatti.ie. During your first clinic visit, Dr. Bhatti may ask you at length about your health-conditions and lifestyle. Please consult your GP before starting new treatment.

Note: We have special packages tailor-made to suit you and your finances. Please ask for our special offers.